Portable cushioned support

Abstract

A support comprising a first pillow having a first pillow body comprising a first arm and a second arm, a second pillow comprising a third arm and a fourth arm, the first and third arms being attached to a first joint, and the second and forth arms being attached to a second joint wherein the first and second pillows can be rotated about the joints and optionally the joints are extendable to allow the relative angle and separation of the pillows to be varied. The support provides a user with myriad options for positioning the pillows and supporting their upper body, particularly during long periods of sitting upright, such as during travel in an aircraft or bus.

1 . A support comprising:
 a first pillow having a first arm and a second arm extending from a first pillow body and forming a first opening between the first arm and the second arm,   a second pillow having a third arm and a fourth arm extending from a second pillow body and forming a second opening between the third arm and the fourth arm, the first and third arms being attached to a first hinge joint, and the second and fourth arms being attached to a second hinge joint,   the first and second pillows being adapted to receive a portion of a user's neck in the first opening and the second opening, wherein the user's head rests on at least one pillow.   
     
     
         2 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second pillows can be rotated about the joints, and wherein the user's head can rest on the second pillow body. 
     
     
         3 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first pillow and the second pillow is generally U-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the second pillow is conformed to fit in a recess of the first pillow. 
     
     
         5 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the dimensions of the second pillow are smaller than the dimensions of the first pillow. 
     
     
         6 . The support according to  claim 5 , wherein the first pillow and the second pillow are generally U-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The support according to  claim 1  further comprising a releasable locking mechanism, wherein a degree of rotation of the first pillow and the second pillow about the joint can be releasably maintained,
 wherein rotation of the releasable locking mechanism in a first direction activates the locking mechanism, and 
 wherein rotation of the releasable locking mechanism in a second direction reduces restriction on the joint. 
 
     
     
         8 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the harness can be located between the support and a seat occupied by the user such that, in use, the harness bears part of a user's weight. 
     
     
         9 . The support according to  claim 8 , wherein the harness is a strap of adjustable length,
 wherein attachment points of the removably attachable strap are adjacent to the first and second joints, and   wherein the removably attachable strap can be looped around the seat.   
     
     
         10 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is portable, and wherein the second pillow is of a same shape and dimensions as the first pillow. 
     
     
         11 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first pillow and the second pillow is inflatable. 
     
     
         12 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the first joint and the second joint are extendable. 
     
     
         13 . The support according to  claim 12 , further comprising a releasable locking mechanism, wherein an amount of extension or retraction of the joint can be releasably maintained. 
     
     
         14 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the first joint and the second joint each comprises at least one extendable leaf attached to an extendable frame, and
 wherein the extendable frame is located inside at least one of the first and second pillows.   
     
     
         15 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein (i) a degree of rotation of the pillows around the joints, and (ii) a separation between the pillows in a vicinity of the joints can be varied. 
     
     
         16 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second pillows is adapted to receive the user's face in the first opening. 
     
     
         17 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second pillows includes an internal rigid structural support. 
     
     
         18 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pillow and the second pillow are integral and the first joint and the second joint are flex points, wherein a degree of rotation around the joints can be adjusted and releasably locked using a locking mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a support, the support comprising:
 a generally U-shaped first pillow having a first arm and a second arm extending from a first pillow body forming a first opening,   a generally U-shaped second pillow having a third arm and a fourth arm extending from a second pillow body forming a second opening, the first and third arms being attached to an extendable first joint, and the second and fourth arms being attached to an extendable second joint,   wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 rotating the first and second pillows about the joints, 
 optionally extending the first and second joints, 
 locating the front of a user's neck between the first arm and the second arm so that a user's head can rest in a forward position on the first pillow body, 
 locating the second pillow on a surface to support a weight of the user's head, and 
 receiving a portion of the user's neck between the first and second pillows. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 connecting a harness between the support and the user or a structure to bear part of the weight.